More In Nashville Metro Council Versus The Department Of Justice
Posted on May 9, 2008 at 7:31 amNate Rau continues his comprehensive coverage of a Metro Council thumbing its nose at the Justice Department:
Depending on who is asked, Tuesday’s Metro Council vote to continue not allowing rehabilitation services in agricultural districts was either a case of local government standing up to Uncle Sam, or a case of an elected body all but tempting the Department of Justice to take serious action against Metro for violating federal land use acts.
This much is certain: the DOJ is investigating Metro’s land use practices as a result of a lawsuit brought on by a nonprofit called Teen Challenge last year.
The case has moved to a damages-only trial, which means Metro has all but admitted it did in fact violate portions of the Fair Housing Act and/or the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.
As a good faith effort to show Metro intends to comply with federal law, Metro Law Director Sue Cain suggested Council pass a bill that allows rehabilitation services in agricultural districts.
But 20 Council members effectively ignored Cain’s advice, and despite possible repercussions ranging from frozen federal education dollars to an injunction, voted against the bill.
“I don’t think a lot of Council members realize the magnitude of it,” District 25 Councilman Sean McGuire said. “I’m really concerned about the status of our federal grant money. I’m not saying I’m right, I’m just saying some people didn’t realize what was going on.”
Some, like District 4 Councilman Michael Craddock, said the federal government should not meddle in local zoning issues. Craddock was so conflicted on the vote he said he wished he didn’t have to cast one.
SEE ALSO:
Mike Byrd
The City Paper editorial
Comments
2 Responses to “More In Nashville Metro Council Versus The Department Of Justice”
I know that it is neither stylish nor fashionable in the media guild to ask Mayor Dean hard questions, but there are glaring ones about what was going on in Metro Legal and the Mayor’s office Nov. 06-Jan. 07 when this bill was being looked at. The fact that Metro Council is taking the entire fall for this is wrong (and you know that I am not a shill for Metro Council). Does the City Paper just run with whatever is fed to them? Truth be told, this would not be an ordinance if Mayor Purcell had vetoed it and the next question is: how hard did Metro Legal Director Dean fight it?
For those of you who prefer to investigate Teen Challenge instead of just taking someone’s word about how “wonderful” this program is, I suggest you read the following links so you can make an informed decision before you send a loved one to Teen Challenge!
An In-Depth Series on Abuse at Teen Challenge
Part 1: Teen Challenge: The Assemblies’ Own “Kiddie Gulag” http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/26/17250/8747/930/503496
Part 2: Teen Challenge: Coercive Groups Disguised as Rehab http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/27/171937/973
Part 3: Teen Challenge: A Typical Week in the “Jesus Gulag” http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/28/17428/8172/453/503981
Part 4: Teen Challenge: Life Within the “Jesus Gulag” http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/29/165243/571/427/504015
Part 5: Teen Challenge: Possible Missionary Mill? http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/30/1712/32864/374/504060
Part 6: Teen Challenge: The Depths of Coercion at a “God Warrior” Training Camp http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/1/164418/2864
Part 7: Teen Challenge: Sex Abuse and Sexual Predators http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/2/17850/21034
Part 8: Teen Challenge: Court-Ordered Coercion and CYA Indemnity Contracts http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/5/3/17742/55658
Part 9: Teen Challenge: Your Tax Dollars, Paying For Institutionalised Abuse http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/5/4/164443/2223/954/504505
Links:
* Bill HR 5876–A Chance to Protect Kids from Abusive “Kiddie Boot Camps” http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/4/25/114146/721/120/503305
* Join Teen Challenge Lawsuit! http://www.beyondbusiness.net/teenchallengesuit.htm